Municipal Election · City of Toronto
Vote by Mail in Toronto
Voting by mail in Toronto’s 2026 municipal election has two deadlines. Apply for a package by Thursday, September 24, 4:30 p.m., then get your completed ballot back to Toronto Elections by noon on Wednesday, October 14 — received, not postmarked.
Apply to vote by mail
Left to apply
Or call Toronto Elections at 416-338-1111 and choose option 5.
Two important deadlines
Applying on time is the easy half. Getting the ballot back in time is the half that decides whether it counts.
Deadline one
Apply by Thu, Sept 24, 4:30 p.m.
Applications opened September 1. Request the package through MyVote or by phone. After 4:30 p.m. on September 24 no more packages are issued, and mail is off the table for this election.
Deadline two
Received by Wed, Oct 14, noon
Toronto Elections must physically have your package by 12 p.m. — not have it postmarked by then. A ballot mailed on October 13 that lands on October 15 is not counted.
How it works
Step 1: Request a package
Through MyVote, or by calling 416-338-1111 and choosing option 5. You need to be an eligible Toronto voter; you do not need a reason. Applications close September 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Step 2: Wait for it to arrive
Toronto Elections mails the package to the address on your application. Requesting one early is the whole trick — it leaves room for the post in both directions.
Step 3: Mark your ballot
Mayor, the councillor for your ward, and a school board trustee, exactly as on an in-person ballot. Follow the instructions in the package for sealing it, which are there to keep your vote secret and your ballot valid.
Step 4: Return it by noon on October 14
Use a yellow drop box in any ward, open from October 1, or the prepaid Canada Post envelope. It has to be in Toronto Elections' hands by the deadline — postmarks do not count.
Getting it back in time
Two routes, one deadline. The drop boxes take the post out of the equation, which is why they exist.
Yellow drop boxes
One in every ward, open from October 1 until noon on October 14. You can use any of them — it does not have to be the box in your own ward.
Canada Post
The package comes with a prepaid return envelope. Delivery time is on you, though: post it days ahead, not on the 13th.
Changed your mind?
As long as you have not sent your completed package back, you can still vote in person — during advance voting or on election day — and your mail-in package is cancelled automatically. Once you have returned it, your vote is complete and voting in person is no longer an option.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to vote by mail in Toronto?
There are two, and both are hard deadlines. You must apply for a mail-in voting package by Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Toronto Elections must then have your completed package in hand by Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon).
How do I apply to vote by mail in Toronto?
Request a package through MyVote, the City of Toronto's own portal, or call Toronto Elections at 416-338-1111 and choose option 5. Applications opened September 1, 2026 and close September 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Does my mail-in ballot have to be postmarked or received by the deadline?
Received. Toronto Elections must physically have your completed package by noon on October 14, 2026 — a ballot postmarked October 13 that arrives on October 15 does not count. Mail it well in advance or use one of the drop boxes.
Where can I drop off my mail-in ballot in Toronto?
There is one yellow drop box in each of Toronto's 25 wards, available from October 1 until noon on October 14. You can use any of them, not only the one in your own ward. The package also comes with a prepaid Canada Post envelope.
Can I still vote in person if I asked for a mail-in package?
Yes, as long as you have not returned it. If you change your mind before sending your completed package back, you can vote in person instead and the package is cancelled automatically. Once you have returned it your vote is complete and in-person voting is no longer available to you.
Who can vote by mail in Toronto?
Any eligible Toronto voter. Voting by mail is not restricted to people who are away or unable to attend — there is no reason to give. You do need to apply for it, which is what separates it from the other ways to vote.
Deadlines, drop-box details and the change-of-mind rule are summarised from the City of Toronto’s mail-in voting and key dates pages. Toronto Elections is the authority — where anything here disagrees with toronto.ca, believe toronto.ca.
A ballot you mail early is a ballot you research early.
Mail-in voters mark their ballot weeks before everyone else, so the council race on it is worth reading up on now rather than in October.
Other ways to vote
Mail is one of the ways. There is also six days of advance voting, and election day itself.